Image forming apparatus delaying transitioning into power saving mode if factors exist limiting the transitioning and if the factors are not resolved within a threshold time causing power off instead of transitioning into the power saving mode

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus includes, a reception unit configured to receive an instruction to transfer the information processing apparatus to the second power state, an analysis unit configured, when the reception unit receives the instruction, to analyze a factor limiting the transfer of the information processing apparatus to the second power state, and a control unit configured, when the analysis unit analyzes the factor and as a result the factor is a first factor, to control the information processing apparatus to transfer to the third power state without waiting until the factor is resolved, and configured, when the factor is a second factor, to control the information processing apparatus to wait until the factor is resolved, and to transfer to the second power state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a controlmethod of the image forming apparatus, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, a technique in which a time period required for startup ofsoftware is shortened has been established as a power saving technique.In the technique, an apparatus shifts to a sleep mode in which only aDynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) is energized when the apparatus isnot used for a certain period of time or when a switch of the electronicapparatus is turned OFF, and when the switch of the electronic apparatusis turned ON in the next time, the electronic apparatus is returned fromthe sleep mode. Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 07-17111discusses the above technique or applying to an image forming apparatus.

In the image forming apparatus to which the above described sort ofpower saving technique is applied, there is a case where the imageforming apparatus is not allowed to shift to the sleep mode when aswitch thereof is turned OFF. Examples of the case where the imageforming apparatus is not allowed to shift to the sleep mode include, forexample, a case where some abnormality occurs in the image formingapparatus or when the image forming apparatus is in running someprocessing that disables normal processing of the image formingapparatus upon returning from the sleep mode if the processing isinterrupted for the purpose of the shifting to the sleep mode.

When the turning OFF of the switch does not affect on a power supply ofa drive unit of the image forming apparatus (i.e., when the power supplyto the drive unit is not mechanically turned OFF even when the switch isturned OFF), even when the image forming apparatus is not allowed toshift to the sleep mode, no cause occurs even if the image formingapparatus does not shift to the sleep mode immediately.

However, when the turning OFF of the switch mechanically turns OFF thepower supply of the drive unit of the image forming apparatus (i.e.,when the turning OFF of the switch mechanically turns OFF the powersupply to the drive unit), the image forming apparatus needs to promptlyshift to, for example, the sleep mode even when the image formingapparatus is not allowed to shift to the sleep mode. Therefore, in theimage forming apparatus to which the above described sort of powersaving technique is applied, when the image forming apparatus is notallowed to shift to the sleep mode, by the turning OFF of the switch,the image forming apparatus does not shift to the sleep mode but shutsdown.

However, especially when a power saving function is effective, a userexpects that the turning OFF of the switch allows the image formingapparatus to shift to the sleep mode not shut down. Therefore, when theswitch is turned OFF, it is desirable that the image forming apparatusshift to the sleep mode as many cases as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system in which, even when the imageforming apparatus is not allowed to shift to a sleep mode when a powersaving/power source switch thereof is turned OFF, the image formingapparatus can shift to a sleep mode as many cases as possible when acause that disables the shifting to the sleep mode can be solvedaccording to the time course.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an informationprocessing apparatus showing a first power state, a second power stateconsuming lower power than the first power state, and a third powerstate consuming lower power than the second power state, includes areception unit configured to receive an instruction to transfer theinformation processing apparatus to the second power state, an analysisunit configured, when the reception unit receives the instruction, toanalyze a factor limiting the transfer of the information processingapparatus to the second power state, and a control unit configured, whenthe analysis unit analyzes the factor and as a result the factor is afirst factor, to control the information processing apparatus totransfer to the third power state without waiting until the factor isresolved, and configured, when the factor is a second factor, to controlthe information processing apparatus to wait until the factor isresolved, and to transfer to the second power state.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofan image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an example of shifting-to-sleep modepossibility determination processing in the image forming apparatus ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of shifting-to-sleep mode disabling causesof the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an example of shifting-to-sleep modedisabling cause analysis processing in a first exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a timing chart of each processing to be executedwhen an operation for turning OFF a power saving/power source switchfrom its ON state is performed by a user in the image forming apparatusof the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating another example of shifting-to-sleepmode disabling cause analysis processing in a third exemplaryembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

A description is made as to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofan image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. A description will be made below, with reference toFIG. 1, as to a controller of the image forming apparatus as a module towhich the present invention is specifically applied.

In FIG. 1, a controller 1 controls the image forming apparatus. Thecontroller 1 includes a main board 100 and a sub-board 120. The mainboard 100 is a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU) system. Themain board 100 includes a CPU 101, a boot read-only memory (ROM) 102, amemory 103, a bus controller 104, a nonvolatile memory 105, a diskcontroller 106, a flush disk 107, a Universal Serial Bus (USB)controller 108, and a power control unit 109.

The CPU 101 controls the main board 100 in its entirety. The boot ROM102 stores a boot program. The memory 103 is used by the CPU 101 as awork memory.

The bus controller 104 has a bridge function that establishes aconnection with an external bus. The nonvolatile memory 105 can keepdata even when the power supply is cut. The disk controller 106 controlsa storage device such as a flush disk (e.g., SSD) 107 and a hard diskdevice 6. The flush disk (e.g., SSD) 107 is a storage device that iscomposed of a semiconductor device and has a relatively small capacity.The USB controller 108 controls a USB memory 9.

The main board 100 is supplied with power from a power supply device 8.A power control unit 109 controls a power supply to each unit on themain board 100 that requires the power supply. The USB memory 9, anoperation unit 5, and a hard disk device 6 are connected to the mainboard 100 outside. The hard disk device 6 is not necessarily a hard diskbut may be any storage device as far as it is a nonvolatile device.

The sub-board 120 is composed of a relatively small general-purpose CPUsystem and an image processing hardware. The sub-board 120 includes aCPU 121, a memory 123, a bus controller 124, a nonvolatile memory 125,an image processing processor 127, and device controllers 126. The CPU121 controls the sub-board 120 in its entirety. The memory 123 is usedby the CPU 121 as a work memory. The bus controller 124 has a bridgefunction for establishing a connection with an external bus. Thenonvolatile memory 125 can keep data even when the power supply is cut.The image processing processor 127 performs real-time digital imageprocessing.

The device controllers 126 control external devices. An external scannerdevice 2 and an external printer device 4 transmit digital image datavia the device controllers 126. A facsimile (FAX) device 7 is directlycontrolled by the CPU 121.

The sub-board 120 is supplied with power from the power supply device 8.A power control unit 128 controls power supply to each unit on thesub-board 120 that requires power. A switch 10 is a power saving/powersource switch for changing a power supply state of the image formingapparatus. The switch 10 receives a power supply ON/OFF operation fromthe user. When the user operates the switch 10, an interruption is inputinto the CPU 101. When the CPU 101 detects the interruption, the CPU 101controls the power control units 109 and 128 according to the state ofthe image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram. For example, each of the CPU 101and the CPU 121 includes a lot of pieces of CPU peripheral hardware suchas a chipset, a bus bridge, and a clock generator, which, however, areomitted here because an illustration thereof is not essential in view ofgranularity of description. Therefore, the configuration of the blockdiagram of FIG. 1 does not limit the scope of the present invention.

An operation of the controller 1 will be described below by exemplifyingcopying of an image onto a paper device. When the user instructs to copyan image via an operation unit 5, the CPU 101 transmits an imageread-out command to the scanner device 2 via the CPU 121. The scannerdevice 2 optically scans a paper document, converts thus scanned imageof the paper document into digital image data, and inputs the digitalimage data into the image processing processor 127 via the devicecontroller 126. The image processing processor 127 transmits thus inputdigital image data to the memory 123 via the CPU 121 according to adirect memory access (DMA) transfer and causes the memory 123 totemporally store the digital image data.

When the CPU 101 can confirm that a certain amount of or a full amountof the digital image data is input into the memory 123, the CPU 101outputs an image output instruction to the printer device 4 via the CPU121. The CPU 121 shows the image processing processor 127 an area wherethe image data is stored in the memory 123. The image data on the memory123 is transmitted to the printer device 4 via the image processingprocessor 127 and the device controller 126 according to a synchronizingsignal from the printer device 4 and is printed onto a paper device(i.e., recording sheet) in the printer device 4.

In making a plurality of copy sets, the CPU 101 causes the hard diskdevice 6 to store the image data of the memory 123. Accordingly, the CPU101 can transmit the image to the printer device 4 to print the image inthe printer device 4 with respect to the copy sets on and after thesecond copy set without necessity to acquire the image from the scannerdevice 2.

The image forming apparatus according to the present exemplaryembodiment can shift to the sleep mode in which power supply to unitsother than a specific unit (e.g., other than the memory 103) of theimage forming apparatus is cut. FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating anexample of a shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processingperformed in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Eachstep is numbered S200 through S220. The steps are realized such that theCPU 101 reads out a program that is computer readably stored in the bootROM 102 or the hard disk device 6 to run the program.

The shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processing (i.e.,first determination processing) is started when the switch 10 is turnedOFF (i.e., when the user operates to turn OFF the switch 10), or when itis determined that the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause is solubleaccording to the time course in the shifting-to-sleep mode disablingcause analysis processing. Detailed description of each step will bemade below.

In step S200, the CPU 101 detects (i.e., determines) whether thereexists the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause. Examples of a casewhere there exists the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause include acase where some abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus orwhen the image forming apparatus is in running some processing thatdisables normal processing of the image forming apparatus upon returningfrom the sleep mode if the processing is interrupted for the purpose ofthe shifting to the sleep mode. FIG. 3 illustrates specific examples ofthe shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause.

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of the shifting-to-sleep mode disablingcause of the present exemplary embodiment. Specifically, theshifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause occurs during execution ofcommunication via a telephone line, during execution of a print job,upon occurrence of an error, in the absence of the turning OFF of thepower supply for more than one month. The above cases are mere examplesof the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause and thus do not limit thescope of the present invention. The reason why the image formingapparatus is not allowed to shift to the sleep mode in the abovedescribed examples will be described below. In a case of the “oncommunicating via a telephone line”, suppose the image forming apparatusshifts to the sleep mode by turning OFF the switch 10, when the imageforming apparatus returns to the normal mode, a state of thecommunication via the telephone line does not return to a stateimmediately before the image forming apparatus having shifted to thesleep mode. As a result thereof, the image forming apparatus is notallowed to shift to the sleep mode but is caused to be “shut down”.

Similarly, also, in a case of the “on executing a print job”, supposethe image forming apparatus shift to the sleep mode by turning OFF theswitch 10, when the image forming apparatus returns to the normal mode,a state of the printer drive unit does not return to a state immediatelybefore the image forming apparatus having shifted to the sleep mode. Asa result thereof, the image forming apparatus is not allowed to shift tothe sleep mode but is caused to be “shut down”.

In a case of the “upon occurrence of an error”, since an error remainswhen the image forming apparatus returns to the normal mode after theimage forming apparatus shifts to the sleep mode by turning OFF theswitch 10, the image forming apparatus is not allowed to shift to thesleep mode but is caused to be “shut down”. In a case of the “in theabsence of the turning OFF of the power source for more than one month”,the image forming apparatus does not shift to the sleep mode by turningOFF the switch 10 but is caused to be “shut down” in consideration witha possible accumulation of malfunctions, e.g., memory leakage, of thesoftware.

As described above, all the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling causes arepreliminary listed up to store the list in the hard disk device 6 or thelike. In step S200, the CPU 101 checks the state of the image formingapparatus against the above list to make a determination whether thereis the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause.

The description returns to the flow chart of FIG. 2 below. In step S200,in a case where it is determined that there exists the shifting-to-sleepmode disabling cause (YES in step S200), the processing proceeds to stepS210. At the time, the CPU 101 performs increment of the number ofexecutions of the shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determinationprocessing stored in the memory 103 (not illustrated).

In step S210, since there is the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause,the CPU 101 analyzes the cause (i.e., shifting-to-sleep mode disablingcause analysis processing). The shifting-to-sleep mode disabling causeanalysis processing will be described below in detail with reference toFIG. 4.

On the other hand, in step S200, in a case where it is determined thatthere is no shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause (NO in step S200),the CPU 101 advances the processing to step S220. At the time, the CPU101 resets the number of executions of the shifting-to-sleep modepossibility determination processing stored in the memory 103 to “0”(not illustrated).

In step S220, since there is no shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause,the CPU 101 causes the image forming apparatus to shift to the sleepmode. Specifically, the CPU 101 controls such that the power controlunits 109 and 128, for example, energize only the memory 103, whereas,shut off the power supply to the other units.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an example of the shifting-to-sleepmode disabling cause analysis processing in the first exemplaryembodiment. Each step is numbered by S400 through S430. The steps arerealized such that the CPU 101 reads out a program that is computerreadably recorded in the boot ROM 102 or the hard disk device 6 to runthe program.

The shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause analysis processing isstarted when the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause is detected inthe shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processing of FIG.2 and analyzes whether the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause issoluble according to the time course. Each step is described below indetail.

In step S400, the CPU 101 analyzes (i.e., judges) whether theshifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause is soluble according to the timecourse (i.e., second determination processing). The shifting-to-sleepmode disabling cause may sometimes be, but sometimes not be, solvedaccording to the time course. For example, the causes of the “oncommunicating via a telephone line” and the “on executing of a printjob” can be eventually solved i.e., are shifting-to-sleep mode disablingcauses which are soluble according to the time course. To the contrary,the problems of the “upon occurrence of an error” and the “in theabsence of the turning OFF of the power source for a long time (e.g.,for more than one month)” are shifting-to-sleep mode disabling causeswhich are not soluble according to the time course.

As described above, all the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling causes arepreliminary classified to those which are soluble according to the timecourse and those which are not soluble according to the time course andthe classified information is stored in the hard disk device 6 or thelike. In step S400, the determination whether the shifting-to-sleep modedisabling causes can be solved according to the time course is made withreference to the above described classified information.

In step S400, when it is determined that the shifting-to-sleep modedisabling cause can be solved according to the time course (YES in stepS400), the CPU 101 advances the processing to step S410. On the otherhand, when it is determined that the shifting-to-sleep mode disablingcause cannot be solved according to the time course (NO in step S400),the CPU 101 advances the processing to step S430.

In step S410, the CPU 101 determines whether the number of executions ofthe shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processing of FIG.2 is within the predetermined number. When it is determined that thenumber of executions of the shifting-to-sleep mode possibilitydetermination processing is within the predetermined number (YES in stepS410), the CPU 101 advances the processing to step S420. In step S420,the CPU 101 controls to execute the shifting-to-sleep mode possibilitydetermination again after, for example, a certain time period haselapsed. In other words, the image forming apparatus of the presentexemplary embodiment controls, even when it is determined that theshifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause is solved according to the timecourse, such that the shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determinationprocessing is repeated up to the predetermined number as a limit (i.e.,redetermination execution processing).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of executionsof the shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processing isnot within the predetermined number (i.e., the number of executions ofthe shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processing reachesthe predetermined number) (NO in step S410), the CPU 101 advances theprocessing to step S430.

In step S430, the CPU 101 causes the image forming apparatus to shutdown. Specifically, in the image forming apparatus of the presentexemplary embodiment, when it is determined that the shifting-to-sleepmode disabling cause is not solved according to the time course or whenit is determined that the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause issolved according to the time course and the shifting-to-sleep modepossibility determination processing has already been repeated for thepredetermined number, the CPU 101 controls such that the image formingapparatus is shut down. In the shut down processing, the CPU 101controls such that the power control units 109 and 128 shut off all thepower supply to the image forming apparatus.

As described above, the image forming apparatus can be controlled asfollows. The image forming apparatus is not immediately shut down evenwhen the image forming apparatus cannot shift to the sleep modeimmediately after the power saving/power source switch 10 is turned OFF.The image forming apparatus can be shut down only when theshifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause is not solved according to thetime course or only when the shifting-to-sleep mode possibilitydetermination is repeated for more than the predetermined number.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of each processing to be executed when the useroperates to turn ON or turn OFF the power saving/power source switch 10in the image forming apparatus of the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5A illustrates a state that a plurality of the shifting-to-sleepmode disabling causes are successively detected in the shifting-to-sleepmode possibility determination, wherein the causes are soluble accordingto the time course and are actually solved according to the time course,and therefore the image forming apparatus is allowed to shift to thesleep mode.

Specifically, when the switch 10 is turned OFF and thereafter theshifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination is performed to findthat the image forming apparatus is not allowed to shift to the sleepmode, wherein, however, the analysis of the shifting-to-sleep modedisabling cause shows that the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause issoluble according to the time course, the shifting-to-sleep modepossibility determination is performed again. FIG. 5A illustrates astate in which the above processing is performed again to make adetermination in the subsequent shifting-to-sleep mode possibilitydetermination that the image forming apparatus can shift to the sleepmode because the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause has already beensolved, resulting in causing the image forming apparatus to shift to thesleep mode.

To the contrary, FIG. 5B illustrates a state in which a plurality ofshifting-to-sleep mode disabling causes are successively detected in theshifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination, wherein the causes areoriginally soluble according to the time course but thereafter a causethat cannot be solved according to the time course occurs, resulting incausing the image forming apparatus to be shut down.

Specifically, after the switch 10 is turned OFF, the shifting-to-sleepmode possibility determination is performed to cause the image formingapparatus not to shift to the sleep mode. In the first shifting-to-sleepmode disabling cause analysis, the shifting-to-sleep mode disablingcause can be solved according to the time course. However, in the secondshifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause analysis, it is found thatanother shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause that cannot be solvedaccording to the time course occurs and therefore it is determined thatthe image forming apparatus is not allowed to shift to the sleep mode,resulting in causing the image forming apparatus to shut down.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the presentinvention, even if the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause isdetected at the time when the power saving/power source switch (i.e.,switch 10) is turned OFF, if the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling causeis soluble according to the time course, the image forming apparatus isnot shut down immediately. Accordingly, the likelihood that the imageforming apparatus can shift to the sleep mode can be increased.

A second exemplary embodiment will be described below. In the firstexemplary embodiment, all the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling causesare preliminary classified to those which can be solved according to thetime course and those which cannot be solved according to the timecourse and, based on the classification, in step S400 of FIG. 4, adetermination is made whether the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling causecan be solved according to the time course.

In the second exemplary embodiment, the determination whether theshifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause can be solved according to thetime course is made by confirming whether the shifting-to-sleep modedisabling cause is solved by allowing a certain time period to actuallyelapse. The other configurations are completely identical to those ofthe first exemplary embodiment.

A third exemplary embodiment will be described below. In also the thirdexemplary embodiment, similar to the second exemplary embodiment, adetermination whether the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause can besolved according to the time course can be made by confirming whetherthe shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause is solved by allowing thecertain time period to actually elapse. A configuration of the thirdexemplary embodiment will be described below in detail.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example of the shifting-to-sleepmode disabling cause analysis processing in the third exemplaryembodiment. Processing of the flow chart is realized such that the CPU101 reads out a program that is computer readably stored in the boot ROM102 or the hard disk device 6 to run the program.

The shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause analysis processing isstarted when the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause is detected inthe shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processing of FIG.2. The shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause analysis processinganalyzes whether the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause is solubleaccording to the time course. Each step will be described below indetail.

When the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause analysis processing isstarted, in step S600, the CPU 101 waits for a predetermined time periodto determine whether the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause isactually solved according to the time course (i.e., third determinationprocessing).

When it is determined that the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause issolved after the certain time period has elapsed (YES in step S600), theCPU 101 advances the processing to step S620. In step S620, for example,after a certain time period has elapsed, the CPU 101 controls such thatthe shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processing isre-executed (i.e., redetermination execution processing). Alternatively,when it is determined that the shifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause issolved after the certain time period has elapsed (YES in step S600), theCPU 101 may advance the processing to step S220 of FIG. 2 where the CPU101 control such that the image forming apparatus shifts to the sleepmode.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the shifting-to-sleep modedisabling cause is not solved even after the certain time period haselapsed (NO in step S600), the CPU 101 advances the processing to stepS610. In step S610, the CPU 101 determines whether the number ofexecutions of the shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determinationprocessing of FIG. 2 is within the predetermined number. When it isdetermined that the number of executions of the shifting-to-sleep modepossibility determination processing is within the predetermined number(YES in step S610), the CPU 101 advances the processing to step S620. Ina case where it is determined that the shifting-to-sleep mode disablingcause is not solved also after the image forming apparatus of thepresent exemplary embodiment waits for a certain time period, the CPU101 controls such that the shifting-to-sleep mode possibilitydetermination processing is repeated up to the predetermined number as alimit.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of executionsof the shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processing isnot within the predetermined number (i.e., the number of executions ofthe shifting-to-sleep mode possibility determination processing reachesthe predetermined number) (NO in step S610), the CPU 101 advances theprocessing to step S630.

In step S630, the CPU 101 causes the image forming apparatus to shutdown. In other words, in the image forming apparatus of the presentexemplary embodiment, when it is determined that the shifting-to-sleepmode disabling cause is not solved and the shifting-to-sleep modepossibility determination processing has been repeated for thepredetermined number, the CPU 101 controls such that the image formingapparatus is shut down.

The other configurations are completely identical to those of the firstexemplary embodiment. As described above, the CPU 101 can control suchthat the image forming apparatus is not immediately shut down,immediately after the power saving/power source switch is turned OFF,even when the image forming apparatus cannot shift to the sleep mode,whereas, the image forming apparatus is shut down only when theshifting-to-sleep mode disabling cause is not solved after a certaintime period has elapsed and the shifting-to-sleep mode possibilitydetermination has been repeated for more than the predetermined numbers.

The configurations and the contents of the above described various typesof data are not limited to those of the present exemplary embodiments;however, needless to say, they may be configured in accordance with usesand/or purposes thereof. In the above exemplary embodiment, the presentinvention is exemplified by the image forming apparatus; however, thepresent invention can be formed into any embodiment such as a system, adevice, a method, a program, and a storage medium. Specifically, thepresent invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality ofdevices or may be applied to a singular device. All the configurationsmade of a combination of the above exemplary embodiments are alsoembraced within the scope of the present invention.

Other Embodiments

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiments, and by a method, the steps of whichare performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, for example,reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory device toperform the functions of the above-described embodiments. For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (e.g., computer-readable medium). In such a case, thesystem or apparatus, and the recording medium where the program isstored, are included as being within the scope of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2011-148846 filed Jul. 5, 2011, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus that is in afirst power state or a second power state consuming lower power than thefirst power state, the information processing apparatus comprising: areception unit configured to receive an instruction to transfer theinformation processing apparatus to the second power state; adetermination unit configured, in a case where the reception unitreceives the instruction, to determine whether a factor limiting thetransfer of the information processing apparatus to the second powerstate exists; a judgment unit configured to judge whether the factor,which is determined by the determination unit to exist, is to be solvedaccording to a time course; and a control unit configured, in a casewhere the judgment unit judges that the factor is not to be solvedaccording to a time course, to control the information processingapparatus to shut down, in a case where the judgment unit judges thatthe factor is to be solved according to a time course, to wait for apredetermined time, in a case where the factor is not resolved even ifthe control unit waits for the predetermined time, to control theinformation processing apparatus to shut down, and in a case where thefactor is resolved while the control unit waits for the predeterminedtime, to control the information processing apparatus to transfer to thesecond power state.
 2. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured to determinerepeatedly whether the factor exists until the factor is resolved. 3.The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thecontrol unit is configured, in a case where a number of determination bythe determination unit reaches a predetermined number, to control theinformation processing apparatus to shut down.
 4. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit isconfigured, in a case where the reception unit receives the instructionand there is no factor limiting the transfer of the informationprocessing apparatus to the second power state, to control theinformation processing apparatus to transfer to the second power state.5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe first power state is a power ON state.
 6. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second power state is apower saving state.
 7. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising an image forming unit configured to form animage on a sheet.
 8. The information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein communication via a telephone line is the factor thatis to be solved according to a time course.
 9. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein execution is a printjob is the factor that is to be solved according to a time course.
 10. Amethod of controlling an information processing apparatus that is in afirst power state or a second power state consuming lower power than thefirst power state, the method of controlling the information processingapparatus comprising: receiving an instruction to transfer theinformation processing apparatus to the second power state; determining,in a case where the instruction is received, whether a factor limitingthe transfer of the information processing apparatus to the second powerstate exists; judging whether the factor, which is determined to exist,is to be solved according to a time course; controlling, in a case wherethe factor is judged not to be solved according to a time course, theinformation processing apparatus to shut down; controlling, in a casewhere the factor is judged to be solved according to a time course, theinformation processing apparatus to wait for a predetermined time;controlling, in a case where the factor is not resolved even if waitedfor a predetermined time, the information processing apparatus to shutdown; and controlling, in a case where the factor is resolved whilewaiting for a predetermined time, the information processing apparatusto transfer to the second power state.
 11. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing aninformation processing apparatus that is in a first power state or asecond power state consuming lower power than the first power state toperform operations comprising: receiving an instruction to transfer theinformation processing apparatus to the second power state; determining,in a case where the instruction is received, whether a factor limitingthe transfer of the information processing apparatus to the second powerstate exists; judging whether the factor determined to exist is to besolved according to a time course; controlling, in a case where thefactor is judged not to be solved according to a time course, theinformation processing apparatus to shut down; controlling, in a casewhere the factor is judged to be solved according to a time course, theinformation processing apparatus to wait for a predetermined time;controlling, in a case where the factor is not resolved even if waitedfor a predetermined time, the information processing apparatus to shutdown; and controlling, in a case where the factor is resolved whilewaiting for a predetermined time, the information processing apparatusto transfer to the second power state.